Paramhansa
Yogananda

Swami
Kriyananda

Meditation &
Kriya Yoga

Classes &
Events

Free Online Books,
Music, & More

Ananda India: Paramhansa Yogananda and Swami Kriyananda

Schedule of Courses and Events in the National Capital Region

Rishikesh Retreat 17 to 19 October, 2008

September–October 2008

PLEASE NOTE: Because the printed version of this schedule is sent in advance of the months it covers, and adjustments sometimes need to be made, please check for updates by calling the contact numbers for the activity . . . or by checking the main page of our Web site and following the "NCR Schedule" link. Activities in other Indian locales are also listed on the main page of our Web site.

IF YOU HAVE E-MAIL: please let us know so we can send you the schedule electronically and keep mailing costs down. E-subscribers also receive a weekly reminder of all Ananda's activities in the NCR.

Inspirational Satsangs

Our regular weekly Saturday satsangs in Gurgaon, 4:30–6:00 pm, are a perfect time to visit Ananda India's main headquarters and bring your friends and family. Swamiji often leads the satsang on the 1st Saturday of the month, but will still be in the U.S. in September. We will announce his "welcome home" satsang after his return.

The 2nd satsang of the month is a kirtan focussing on Paramhansa Yogananda's and Swami Kriyananda's chants. The 3rd is a discourse on the Bhagavad Gita. The 4th, entitled "Living Yoga: Kriya Yoga in Action", applies the sacred science of Kriya Yoga directly to daily life. Although this satsang is especially for Kriyabans, it is also open to the general public. If there is a 5th Saturday, the satsang includes a special ceremony. Refreshments follow each satsang. These satsangs are usually recorded and available online.

GURGAON: Every Saturday, 4:30–6:00 pm, B–10/8, DLF Phase I.

NOIDA: Kirtan and potluck, 3rd Sunday of the month (21 September, 19 October), 5:00–8:00 pm, E–18, Sector 52. Contact information: 92132 11859, 99115 50189, or 98101 23643.

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Special Satsangs

Two special satsangs at the usual weekly time, 4:30 to 6:00 pm Saturday, B–10/8, DLF Phase I . . .

WELCOME BACK, SWAMIJI: date TBA. Swamiji's 1st satsang back in India since leaving last winter.

ALL SAINTS: 31 October. An opportunity to honour saints of all religions with stories, kirtan, and a blessing ceremony.

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"A Way to Awakening" TV Programme

Swami Kriyananda appears on AASTHA TV channel daily, 6:30–6:50 pm (check your local schedule to verify timings). Please help us keep Swamiji's TV programme on the air by sending your donations or helping us find corporate sponsors.

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Vow Ceremony

Friday 12 September, 7:00–9:00 pm. B–10/8, DLF Phase I, Gurgaon. In honour of Swamiji's 60th discipleship anniversary, Ananda Sangha members at various stages of discipleship will make or renew their own commitments. Please connect with Roma or Haridas (Roma, 98992 00634; Haridas, 98732 39940) about your eligibility to take vows. Bring a flower and a donation to offer at the altar. Those taking vows may also make arrangements with us to stay overnight after the Friday night ceremony. Call Roma to make reservations and for further details, including costs.

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Lahiri Mahasaya Celebrations

Both at B–10/8, DLF Phase I, Gurgaon:

HIS MAHASAMADHI: Friday 26 September: satsang 7:00–9:00 pm. Discourse, stories, kirtan, & meditation.
HIS BIRTHDAY: Tuesday 30 September: satsang 7:00–9:00 pm. Please bring a flower and donation to offer at the altar.

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Diwali

Monday 27 October (Diwali Eve), celebration 5:30 to 7:30 pm, followed by potluck and crackers. Please bring a sweet or savoury. B–10/8, DLF Phase I, Gurgaon.

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Calendar pages for September & October will soon be available, linked here.

Group Meditation

Deepen your meditation with other devotees. All are welcome.

DELHI: Every Thursday, 6:30–8:00 pm, 10/B Sagar Apartments, 6, Tilak Marg. (98100 56320. Sunday morning meditations will resume at a later date.

GURGAON: Meditate with Ananda Sangha every morning. Meditations are led 6:45–8:30 am daily except on Thursdays, 6:30–9:00 am, and on alternating Mondays, 6:30 am–12 noon. For these extended meditations, please arrive on time and stay till at least the 9:00 break. B–10/8, DLF Phase I.

NOIDA: Wednesdays, 7:30–8:30 pm; Sundays, 9:00–10:00 am, E–18, Sector 52. ( 92132 11859 or 98102 33591.

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Ananda Yoga

Beginner yoga courses from Tuesday to Friday 1 week each month, 7:00–8:15 pm. The course includes basic asanas, proper breathing, and a short version of Paramhansa Yogananda's Energisation Exercises. A follow-up programme of open classes is available after the beginner level, using the Ananda Yoga method—a spiritual approach developed by Swami Kriyananda to classical hatha yoga. ( or e-mail the contacts at the bottom of the screen to pre-register and to receive more information.

GURGAON: Beginner course by appointment. Open classes Saturdays, 9:00–10:00 am; Wednesdays, 7:00–8:00 pm. B–10/8, DLF Phase I.

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Free “How to Meditate” Class in Hindi & English
(Introduction to “Meditation & the Path of Kriya Yoga”)

If you'd like to begin meditating before the next full weekend seminar, Meditation & Kriya Yoga, Level I (described below), this class is offered free of charge as a prelude (but not a substitute). Feel free to invite anyone you know who is interested in learning to meditate. You may come as often as you wish. Classes are now offered by appointment, entailing a call.

DELHI: 10–B, Sagar Apts., 6, Tilak Marg. (98100 56320.

GURGAON: B–20/1, DLF Phase I. (98990 14209; 98992 67698; or (0124) 405-9550.

NOIDA: E–18, Sector 52. (92132 11859, 92131 20704, or 98102 33591.

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Courses in the Science of Kriya Yoga

Meditation & the Path of Kriya Yoga, Level I

A weekend of programmes based on the spiritual principles and practices
of Self-realisation as taught by Paramhansa Yogananda.
Please call or e-mail to pre-register.

FREE INTRODUCTORY DISCOURSE

This discourse, occurring the 1st night, provides an overview to what will be covered in the workshops.

WORKSHOPS

There are 2 workshops, both required for Level I. Depending on location, they will be offered the same day, consecutive days, or consecutive weekends.

Meditation: The basics of meditation with a focus on the Hong-Sau technique taught by Paramhansa Yogananda. Techniques to relax the body and methods to still the restless mind, such as pranayama practices, devotional chanting, and affirmations.

Energisation: The principles of Paramhansa Yogananda's Energisation Exercises. How to work with cosmic conscious energy, gain control over the subtle life force within you, and harness and direct the will to help you deepen your practice of the Hong-Sau technique.

Cost: Rs. 950, including course materials, tea, and snacks.

DELHI: Chhattarpur Temple, Sri Adhya Katyani, Shaktipith Mandir, Mehrauli, Delhi. (Free parking.)

Introductory Discourse: Saturday, 20 September, 7:00–9:00 pm

Meditation & Energisation Workshops: Sunday 21 September, 10:30 am–4:30 pm

GURGAON: B–10/8, DLF Phase I.

Introductory Discourse: Saturday, 20 September, 7:00–9:00 pm

Meditation & Energisation Workshops: Sunday 21 September, 10:30 am–4:30 pm

NOIDA: E–18, Sector 52.

Introductory Discourse: Saturday, 20 September, 7:00–9:00 pm

Meditation & Energisation Workshops: Sunday 21 September, 10:30 am–1:00 pm plus Sunday 28 September, 10:30 am–1:00 pm

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Discipleship & the AUM Technique (Meditation & Kriya Yoga, Level III)

The guru-discipleship relationship and the Ananda line of gurus, and the opportunity to take discipleship initiation into this path. New disciples will learn the AUM technique, an advanced meditation practice. Required book: Preparation for Kriya Yoga, which will continue to be used in the next level course as well. Pre-requisite: Meditation & Kriya Yoga, Levels I and II. Cost: Rs. 600 for 4 classes (or equivalent), which includes the price of the book and an AUM board.

Next offered in the NCR in winter, dates TBA.

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Kriya Preparation (Meditation & Kriya Yoga, Level IV)

Preparation and guidance for your upcoming Kriya initiation. The history, purpose, and benefits of Kriya Yoga and advanced instruction and practice of meditation through specific Kriya preparation techniques. Pre-requisite: Meditation & Kriya Yoga, Levels I, II, and III. Cost: Rs. 500.

DELHI: Saturdays 6, 13, 27 September; 4 October, 10:30–12:30 pm. Chhattarpur Temple, Sri Adhya Katyani, Shaktipith Mandir, Mehrauli, Delhi. (Free parking.) (Roma, 98992 00634.

GURGAON: Sundays 7, 14, 21, & 28 September, 10:30 am–12:30 pm, B–20/1, DLF Phase I.

NOIDA: Sundays 5, 12, 19 October & 16 November, 10:30 am–12:30:00 pm, E–18, Sector 52.

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Special Discourse Series

Noida is hosting a series of special discourses on various topics with Ananda acharyas. For topics, call ( 92132 11859, 99115 50189, or 98101 23643, or check Noida's Web page.

NOIDA: 7 & 14 September (continuing from July), 10:30 am–12:30 pm. E–18, Sector 52.

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Sunday Series at The Wishing Tree

Every Sunday at Swamiji's shop, The Wishing Tree, in Gurgaon's Metropolitan Mall, 5:00–6:00 pm there are short presentations on applying spiritual principles to daily life, alternating with our monks leading a kirtan.

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Seva Corps (Volunteers)

There are many opportunities for joyful service in Ananda Sangha. Just a few possibilities: help fold and label printed material for mailings; answer phones a few hours each week; do updating of our data base; assist at the welcome table weekdays at our main community house in Gurgaon; and help staff the book table at special events. To know how you can help, ( Sangeeta at 98992 67698, or e–mail ananda@anandaindia.org .

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Donations to Ananda Sangha

Donations to help spread Paramhansa Yogananda's teachings throughout India are gratefully received and acknowledged, tax-exempt under Section 80G. Please make cheques payable to Ananda Sangha Donations, or ( 98992 67698 for other options. Ananda Sangha India is sustained by your generosity. Thank you.

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Here are several ways you could help with the new Pune community . . . . and a few other ways to help our existing community in the NCR as well. E-mail addresses will shortly be given to contact for further information (some for members of our Ananda India community, some for members of our Ananda communities in America).

We need help starting the gardens and orchards, and in landscaping on the new land, as it's absolutely raw. The 30-acre piece is a steep hill with building planned in a swath across the base. The upper part of the hill will be terraced with orchards and gardens. The soil is fertile, and we plan to start a nursery as soon as possible to get plants and trees going, ready to plant in a few years. The property already has a couple of beautiful mango trees and a gigantic jackfruit tree. There is also a fig tree adjacent to the property. So we know these will grow well.
We hope to make the Pune community a model for ecological harmony with nature, and to offer training programmes so people can come learn how to do permaculture and organic methods. We're just at the stage of getting the geological surveys done, figuring out water harvesting plans, etc., so you could definitely get in on the "ground floor"!
Swamiji has said several times that he wants young people to go out and teach in the universities, and there are many universities in the Pune area. Learning to teach meditation and yoga as well as training to be a presenter of the Material Success through Yoga Principles Course would be a great way to help.
Solar energy and other alternative energy concepts are very important in India. We're hoping the new community can showcase these ideas, and again, offer training programmes for people who want to learn to do these things. We're also investigating alternative building materials that could be low-cost and offer superior insulating properties.
In April we'll start the 1st Education for Life school in India! We'll begin with kindergarten-age children. We'll use the same new facility to simultaneously run a programme to train teachers in the EFL method, so we need teachers both for children and adult EFL training. Our plan is for this school to be the focus of our work in the Delhi area; then in 2 or 3 years, with the experience of this school, we'll open a school in Pune. Starting immediately, we need help promoting the school and gathering students.
We are now looking for help in all aspects of running our retail store The Wishing Tree in Gurgaon's most prestigious mall. The store is our public relations showcase and a very important part of our work in India. Eventually we hope to start a Wishing Tree in Pune as well.
We need help with our Web sites . . . publications cover / layout design . . . writing copy . . . typesetting . . . selling Swamiji’s books and music to bookstores . . . setting up our teaching tours . . . promotions and fundraising . . . accounting and finances . . . video production for recording Swamiji’s talks and general recording work for all our events . . . cooking . . . and taking care of our guests. And Dharmadas and I need an assistant!

In short, if you want to help, there is something for you to do!

Aum, Nirmala

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            Ananda Sangha India
            B–10/8, DLF Phase I
            Gurgaon (Haryana), India 122 002
            Directions

Phone: 98990 14209; 98992 67698; (0124) 405-9550
Fax: (0124) 410-3386
E-mail: ananda@anandaindia.org